Mechanical pencil



, 2 Sheets-Sher#v l v H. s. HAssELQUlsT MECHANICAL PENCIL VFiled Jan. 19, 1944 l Dec. 10, 119%.r

lll. 1

Dec. 10, 1946.

y H. s. HASsELQuls-ij MECHANICAL PENCIL Filed Jan. 19, 1944 2 slwetssheetY 2 INVENToR.

696015. assfz n@0/57".

Y Afro/gwn at the rear end of the barrel Patented Dec. 10 1946 MECHANICAL PENCIL Hugo S. Hasselquist, Oak Park, Ill., assignor to v Joseph Dixon Crucible Company, Jersey City, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 19, 1944, Serial N0. 518,825

AThis invention relates to mechanical pencils of the propel,- retract type.

The invention has for its salient object to provide a pencil that is simple, practical and rugged in construction, comprises a minimum number of parts, is economical to manufacture, efficient in operation, and is so constructed as to materially reduce the amount of metal and number of metal parts required for its manufacture.

lAnother object of the invention is to provide a pencil of the character described with a new and improved clutch and ejector assembly so constructed and so mounted that the clutch will not become fractured or distorted in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a clutch and ejector assembly so constructed and arranged that the ejector will always be properly centered in the clutch.

Another objectl of the invention is to provide a' clutch and ejector assembly so constructed and arranged that the ejector controls the positioning of the clutch and prevents rotation thereof without necessitating coaction between the clutch and channel. g k 4 Another object of the invention is to provide means for frictionally retarding the retractionof the clutch.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel, encient, and easily assembled mounting for the tip in the barrel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel, e'icient, and easily assembled mounting for the spiral tube and tip in the front end of the barrel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and enicient spiral tube mounting and a mounting constructed to frictionally engage and retard or brake rotation of the ymagazine or body member.

Another object of the invention is to provide a magazine or body member with a channel member so mounted therein as to permit a frictional slippage between the magazine and channel member.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following specication taken in connection with the drawings which form -a part of this application and in which Fig. `1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a pencil constructed in accordance with the invention, the clutch and ejector -being illustrated or in their initial feeding positions;

Fig. 2 is a view similar toFig. 1 but illustrating i Claims. (C1. 12o-1s) l which the magazine can be rotated.

the clutch and ejector at the extreme end of the feeding and ejecting positions thereof;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation .taken substantially on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, lookingin the direction of the arrows; f

Fig. l is a fragmentary sectional elevation illus`= trating the `front end of the barrel and the man. ner of assembling the tip and spiral therein);

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse-sectional elevation taken'substantially on line 5--5 of Fig." 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional elevation taken substantially on line 6--6 of Fig. 1, looking 'in-the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional elevation utaken substantially on line 1-1 of Fig. 1, looking in' the direction of the arrows; v

Fig. 8 is an elevation, partly in section, ofthe magazine, illustrating the manner of assembling the channel tube in the magazine;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the clutch'and ejector;

Fig. 10 is a top plan View of thestructure shown in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 1l is a sectional elevation showing the rear or cap end of the pencil shown in Figs. 1 and 2.4r

The invention briefly described consists of na mechanical pencil comprising a barrel and a body member which, as illustrated, also consists" of a magazine having longitudinal grooves in its outer periphery for storing leads. The magazine is'rotatab-ly mounted in the barrel but has a cap secured thereto at the rear end thereof by means of .A spiral tube or a tube having a spiral slot extendingA throughout .the length thereof is xedly secured at its front end in a tapered member or sleeve which is also used .to expand .the rear end of the tip into frictionally tight engagement with fthe front end of lthe barrel. The rear end ofthe spiral .tube has mounted .thereon means such asa disk or washer and the spiral is stretched between the xed forwardend thereof and the rear end so that the Washer frictionally engages the rear end of the magazine or body member.

A `clutch tube is mounted in the spiral and is provided with a lug which extends into the spiral slot. The clutch tube houses an ejector which projects through a longitudinal slotin the clutch tube and h-as an elongated rearwardly extending por-tion which is disposed in a channel formed in the channel tube secured in the magazine or body adapted to engage the lead as the lead is held in the clutch and fed thereby.

Means is provided in the pencil for positively limiting .the forward movement of the ejector during its ejecting action and also for positively limiting the forward movement of the clutch.

ber 2| which forms a magazine, the body mem- Y ber being provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves or channels 23 in its outer periphery for storing leads 22. A cap 24 is frictionally secured to the rear portion of the magazine or body member 2| and by rotating the cap the magazine is also rotated.

As shown in Fig. 8, the magazine or bodymember .2| has secured therein a channeled tube v25.

The .tube 25 is freely rotatable in the member 2| with the exception of the rear end thereof which is slit at 21 opposite the channel 28 and is expanded sufliciently in the member 2| to provide a friction t therein whereby -rotation of the member 2| causes the .tube 25 to rotate. This friction drive for the channel tube, clutch and ejector prevents .damage to the pencil from overdrive.

A spiral tube Ior a tube having a spiral slot therein is mounted in the body member and tube 25. The frontend of the spiral .tube 30 issecured in .any suitable manner in a tapered sleeve 3| having aflange 32.

A tip 33 is secured in the front end of the barrel and has a rearwardly extending cylindrical portion 34,having inwardly extending slits 35. The tapered sleeve 3 kas shown particularly in Fig. 4, is assembled by forcing the vsleeve into the slitted rear end of the portion 34 of the tip, thus forcing this'portion of the tip laterally into tight gripping engagement with the inner wall 36 of the forward end of the barrel 20. Thus Vthe forward end of the tub 3.0 and the rear end of the .tap 33 are eiectively assembled in .the forward end of thebarrel.

The open rear end of the spiral .tube 30 has mounted thereon va disk or washer 38 having a D-shaped opening 39 therein, as shown in 6.

The washer engages the rear end of the magazine r or body` member 2| and the tube 30 is stretched between the fixed f-ront Vend `thereof which is disposedV in the sleeve 3| and the rear end and the rearvend of the tube is ared, as shown :at "4|, The disk or washer 38 is thus held "in frictiona'l engagement with lthe magazine orbody member The clutch is illustrated particularly in Figs. 9 and 10 and comprises an-elongated'ftube45having tapered or inwardly concaved fingers Y46 Aat the frontend thereof which engage and friction` ally hold the lead which isfed4 bythe clutch.

Between 4its ends the clutch tube-45 is provided Y with a laterally projecting lug 41. The clutch` tube has a longitudinally extending slot 48 and the rear end of the tube is slit transversely,

as shown in Fig. 9 at 449, .and the upper portion ofthe wall of theltube is bent inwardly, as shown at and 5|, .these portions forming a stop :5 2 for limitingY the rearward movement of the ejector.v

The ejector comprises a'longitudinally extending elongated .plunger 53 which. iis .disposed inilthe clutch tube 45, a Llaterally'bent portion .54 which extends through the slot 48,-and a rearwardly ext tending elongated portion 55 which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, extends into the channel 56 formed in .the channel tube 25. This channel might, if desired, be formed in the inner wall of the body memberV or magazine 2|. The ejectorean be inserted through the slot 48 after .the clutch tube has been completely fabricated and the lips have been folded inwardly.

Attention is called to the fact that the elongated end 55 of the plunger, by reason of its engage-V ment in the channel 56, maintains the plunger 53v the bend 58 in the ejector engages the liange '32' to limit the -operative orhejecting movement of the ejector. When the bend 58 engages the liange 32 the elongated end or .tail 55 of the plunger rests on the outer surface of the spiral tube 3|), thus preventing the ejectorfrom being forced off center and against the inside ofthe .clutch tube.

The forward movement or operative movement of the clutch is limited by means of a Vmember interposed between the front end of the sleeve 3| and the tip 33. This member consists of an annular ring or sleeve 6U which is rotatably mounted in the portion 34 of the tip andis provided with a flange having tapered'resilient ngers 6| which frictionallyengag'efthe outer surface of the clutch .tube l45'. As vthe clutch tube moves forward into the tip 33, the lug 41 will engage the flange and carry the .ring Y6i) which has a limited axial movement forwardly into the tip until the portion 62 engages ythe inner surface of the tapered portion 6.3 ofthe tip 33. As the ejectorandclutch are retracted, the clutch is retarded .initsretractive movementY by the ngers 6|. DuringV this retractive movement the ring ,moves backwardly in the portion 34 of the tip until the rear Vedge thereof abuts against the front edge of the 'sleeve 3|. The axial movement of the ring 60 lis provided only to the extent necessary toinsure free rotation of the ring. l

The cap 24 may be of any desired construction butis preferably formed in the manner shown in Fig. Y11 in which the cap as shown comprises a cap tube l0 havingY a tapered rear inner surface 1| adapted to receive a removable cap 12; `One end of the cap 'l2 has secured therein an eraser 13. The disk 38 overlaps the rear ends of the storage grooves or channels 23, thereby retain-l' ing the leads 22 therein. However, whenithle cap is removed, the leads 23 can be lifted and then withdrawn longitudinally from the storage channels or grooves. y y

From the'foregoing*description it will be evident that a simple and practical mechanical pencil has been designed and that the pencil described is capable -of accomplishing the objects set forth in the outset of the specification. As

hereinbefore explained, positive limits for the` forward movement of vthe ejectory and clutch Yhave been pr-ovidedV and these parts havevbeen so designed as to provide a rugged construction in to `the barrel are simple, practical and `effec afiiaes tive and permit the assembling of these parts at a minimum cost.

Although one specific embodiment of the invention has been particularly shown and described, it will be understood that the invention is capable of modication and that changes in the construction and in the arrangement of the various cooperating parts may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, as expressed in the following claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, a tip having its rear end secured in the front of the barrel, a spiral tube in the barrel, and means secured to the front end of the spiral tube for securing the tip in the barrel.

2. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, a tip having its rear end secured in the front of the barrel, a spiral tube in the barrel, and tapered means secured to the front end of the spiral tube for securing the tip in the barrel.

3. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, a tip having its rear end secured in the front of the barrel, a spiral tube in the barrel, and means secured to the front end of the spiral tube and disposed in the rear end of the tip for spreading the said end of the tip laterally and securing the tip in the barrel.

4. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, a member rotatably mounted therein and having a longitudinal internal channel, a spiral tube mounted in said member, means securing the front end of said tube to the front end of the barrel, and means on the rear end of the tube frictionally engaging the member, said tube being held under tension between the front and rear ends thereof.

5. In a, mechanical pencil, a barrel, a member rotatably mounted therein and having a longitudinal internal channel, a spiral tube mounted in said member, means securing the front end of said tube to the front end of the barrel, means on the rear end of the tube frictionally engaging the member, and means in said tube coacting with said spiral and channel to feed lead through the tube.

6. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, a member' rotatably mounted therein, a channeled tube mounted therein and having a friction fit adapted to permit relative rotational movement between the tube and member in which the tube is mounted, a spiral tube mounted in said rst tube and xed to the barrel, and lead feeding means in the spiral' having means extending through the wall of the spiral tube into the channel whereby rotation of the member in the barrel will cause the lead to be fed through the spira1 tube.

7. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, a magazine member rotatably mounted in the barrel, a cap frictionally engaging the rear portion of the magazine member whereby rotation of the cap will rotate said magazine, a spiral tube in said magazine member fixed to the barrel, said magazine member having a longitudinal internal channel, and means in said spiral tube arranged to coact with the spiral and channel and feed the lead as the cap and magazine are rotated.

8. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, a, channeled member rotatable therein, a spiral tube in said member iixed to said barrel, a tip at the front end of the barrel, said tube having a spiral slot, a clutch in said tube having a lug extending into said spiral slot, and means for frictionally engaging said clutch and having a portion engageable by said lug to limit the forward movement of the clutch into the tip.

9. In a mechanical pencil, a barrel, a, magazine `therein rotatable in the barrel, a spiral tube in the magazine xed to the barrel, and a disk on the rear end of the spiral tube held against rotation thereon and frictionally engaging the rear end of the magazine.

10. A clutch and ejector unit for a mechanical pencil comprising a clutch tube having an elongated slot adjacent the rear end thereof, the slot being closed at its ends, and an ejector comprising a plunger insertable through said slot, an angular portion extending through the slot, and

.an elongated portion outside the slot substantially parallel to the plunger in the tube.

HUGO S. HASSELQUIST. 

